§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the(a) Create and (b) Lightswitch grant regimes administered by the Energy Saving Trust were discontinued; and what will replace them with respect to schools. [70227]
§ Mr. MeacherThe school sector is an area where we now expect the Carbon Trust to have a lead role as part of their work on the promotion of energy efficiency in the public sector. We have asked the Carbon Trust to work with the Energy Saving Trust to develop a new approach for the schools sector, and they intend to draw on the previous experience of the EST as well as other key players such as CREATE.
In addition, as part of their work to promote energy efficiency in business and the public sector, the Carbon Trust is currently considering how the promotion of energy efficient lighting, including in schools, can be improved and will shortly be consulting with all key players, manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in developing and expanding their approach.
In the meantime, the EST will be discussing with the Carbon Trust how to handle certain programmes and initiatives that they had previously managed, such as Lightswitch and SchoolEnergy. The EST is also expected to continue to have an important and proactive role in energy efficiency education and in energy services for schools. I understand that these considerations will form part of the proposal from the Trusts on a future strategy for schools.